LITTLE RIVER, S.C. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) softball team dropped a narrow 6–5 extra-inning decision to Penn State-Abington on Monday, March 9, at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. The start of the game was delayed an hour due to morning rain.
The Gothic Knights (0-6) were outhit 12-9 by the Lions (1-1), while both teams committed two errors.
Penn State-Abington struck first in the top of the opening inning with a two-out double followed by an RBI single. NJCU responded in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Kiara Taylor (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) reached with a single and advanced on a hit by junior Jaeda Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic). After junior Emma Grochowski (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) loaded the bases with a single to left field, senior Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) tied the game with a sacrifice fly that brought home Taylor. Junior Shannon McGuire (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) then singled to right field to score Figueroa and give NJCU a 2-1 lead.
The Lions evened the score at 2-2 in the second inning with back-to-back singles.
NJCU added two runs in the fourth. Sophomore Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) later stole second and moved to third on a single by Taylor. Figueroa followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored Hanlon, and a throwing error by the third baseman allowed Taylor to score as well, giving the Gothic Knights a 4-2 advantage.
Penn State-Abington answered in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on three hits to tie the game at 4-4. The Lions then held NJCU hitless in the sixth and seventh innings to force extra innings.
Starting the eighth with the international tiebreaker runner on second base, the Lions delivered a double to left field and a single up the middle to take a 6-4 lead.
NJCU nearly rallied in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Jennie Carmona (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) began the frame on second, and with two outs Figueroa singled to right-center field to score her and cut the deficit to 6-5. However, Penn State-Abington sealed the victory with a called strikeout to end the game.
Figueroa led NJCU with three RBIs and one run scored, while Taylor scored twice and finished 2-for-3. Grochowski also recorded two hits. Hanlon, Figueroa, and Grochowski each stole a base.
For the Lions, Rylee Albany and Emily Foxhill each drove in two runs and finished 2-for-4. Lainey Scotese and Candice Peck also had two hits apiece, with Scotese adding an RBI. Tori Colagreco scored twice and hit a triple.
Junior Elyze Lopez (Reseda, Calif./John F. Kennedy) pitched 5.2 innings for NJCU, allowing four runs on eight hits without issuing a walk. Junior Maggie Martin (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan) (0-4) took the loss after allowing two runs in the final two innings.
Sydney Schrager (1-0) earned the win for Penn State-Abington, pitching the final 2.2 innings and allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
NJCU continues play at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Tuesday, facing University of Pikeville at 11:00 a.m. and Cairn University at 3:00 p.m.
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